The PAS-led Kelantan state government is studying a suggestion to implement public caning for adulterers and those who consume liquor.

The Star Online today quoted Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Abdullah as saying the suggestion “is good as a way to gradually introduce hudud in the state”.

“The suggestion is a good one but needs a lot of study and I believe it is possible because Aceh (in Indonesia) has implemented such punishment.

“We will also look into the mechanics of implementing it in Kelantan,” Mohd Amar reportedly said.

Mohd Amar, however, reassured that the government will take into consideration the many issues and aspects related to the suggestion before making its decision.

The PAS vice-president was responding to Tawang assemblyperson Hassan Mohamood who had suggested that the law should be gradually implemented since the party’s Private Member’s Bill on hudud had failed to be tabled in Parliament.

Hassan had yesterday reportedly suggested that those who commit zina (adultery) and consume liquor should be flogged in public after Friday prayers.

Hassan also told the ongoing Kelantan state legislative assembly sitting that such punishments were a way to educate people, and witnesses, and not aimed at bringing shame to the offender.

PAS news organ Harakahdaily , meanwhile, today quoted Kelantan state exco member Nassuruddin Daud as confirming that the suggestion being studied was for convicted adulterers to be punished with six strokes of the cane in public.

“It has been mentioned in the Quran that Muslims can witness the punishment by caning. Therefore, we would be studying the suggestion (to enforce public caning),” he was quoted as saying.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s bill to amend the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) and pave the way for implementation of hudud had made it to the Dewan Rakyat order paper last year but was never debated because the House was occupied with other matters.